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Friday, July 13, 2012

Mescalero Man to Serve 14 Years in Prison for Child Sexual Abuse Conviction

ALBUQUERQUE—Earlier today in Las Cruces
federal court, Wyatt Michael Lee Pebeashy, 25, was sentenced to a 168-month
term of imprisonment for his conviction for aggravated sexual abuse of a minor.
Pebeashy, a member and resident of the Mescalero Apache Nation, will serve a
10-year term of supervised release after he completes his prison sentence. He
also will be required to register as a sex offender.

U.S. Attorney Kenneth J. Gonzales said
that Pebeashy was sentenced for sexually abusing a child on October 3, 2008, at
a residence located within the Mescalero Apache Reservation.

According to court filings, the victim’s
mother contacted law enforcement authorities on October 3, 2008, and reported
her belief that Pebeashy had sexually assaulting her child. Investigation of
the report was impeded because the victim was not able to have any meaningful
communication with investigators due to her young age. Although Pebeashy denied
assaulting the victim during interviews with authorities, in July 2009, he
agreed to provide a DNA sample to authorities. In November 2010, the results of
DNA analysis revealed that a blood stain found on the victim’s shirt was
Pebeashy’s blood. In June 2011, after being confronted with the DNA evidence,
Pebeashy admitted sexually assaulting the victim.

Pebeashy was charged by criminal
complaint in July 2011 and was arrested on August 2, 2011. He has been in
federal custody since that time. Pebeashy entered a guilty plea to an
information charging him with aggravated sexual abuse on November 17, 2011.

The case was investigated by the Federal
Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Office of Justice
Services, Mescalero Agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jacob A. Wishard prosecuted
the case.